The Chicago Bears led the league in interceptions (23) this season, and almost one-third of that production came from star safety Kevin Byard III. The dynamic defensive playmaker picked off an NFL-leading seven passes for 91 yards in 2025, leaving Bears fans craving for him to be re-signed ahead of March's free agency period.
But as much as it'd be great to have Byard re-signed, a deal will be easier said than done. At a projected market value of just $7.5 million a year, according to Spotrac, he could be difficult to bring back for a Bears team that's projected to be nearly $10 million over the 2026 salary cap.
General manager Ryan Poles will need some financial assistance to re-sign Byard, and that's where D.J. Moore's contract might come in handy.
Bears Must Restructure DJ Moore's Contract to Keep Kevin Byard III in Chicago
Moore is a potential trade candidate in Chicago this offseason after posting a 50-682-6 stat line in 17 appearances. However, if there's a chance that the Bears want to keep him, he'll need to restructure his contract; not only to make his cap hit more palatable for what he brings to the table, but because it'll help Chicago re-sign Byard, too.
According to Spotrac, the Bears "can free up $17.4 million" in cap space by converting Moore's salary, and a void year could increase those savings to $18.5 million.
Byard is one of the best ball-hawks in the league right now. The fact that the seven picks weren't even a career-best for him — he had eight in 2017 — shows that last season's success wasn't a fluke. Defensive backs coach Al Harris will stay in the Windy City, and he knows how to turn his players into turnover machines.
The former Tennessee Titans star would probably be in for a much bigger payday after the season he just had, but his age (32) limits his market a bit. That's great news for a Bears defense that had to rely on too many takeaways and big plays to find success in 2025.
Byard finished the season with 93 tackles (61 solo), four tackles for a loss, and eight passes defensed en route to a first-team All-Pro selection. He also had a couple of tackles for loss in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's unit should be better with another season, and they certainly need to add more firepower to the front seven. That said, they can't afford to lose any of their stars in the secondary after being such a threat to opposing passers.
Moore's future with the team is a big question mark. But if the Bears don't want to give up on him, he'll need to make a sacrifice to ensure that one of his most talented teammates remains in Chicago.